Cement-block machine.



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No. 830,157. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906..

L. T. LOWE. CEMENT BLOCK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0012 1. 1905.

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LakeZYZLOWe W itnesseg Inventor I by Attorneys 1n: NORRIS PETERS 0a.,WASHINGWN, o. c.

rrnn smrns PATENT OFFICE.

LUKE T. LOlVE. OF BRISTOL, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO HOMER E.JONES AND ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES F. GAUTHIER, OF

BRISTOL, TENN Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed October 11. 1905. Serial No- 282.304-

To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, LUKE T. Lows, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bristol, in the county of Sullivan and State of Tennessee,have invented a new and useful Cement- Block Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus of that class employed for themnufacture of building and other blocks from concrete or other plasticmaterial.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel form ofmold-box in which the parts moved to and from molding position will beautomatically closed or opened, a single movement of the operatingmechanism being all that is necessary to move the block to dischargingposition or to return the parts to filling position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this typein which the mold-box as a whole is movable vertically from the fillingor molding to the discharging position and in which the side and endplates of the box have pivotal connections with the bottom or carrier ofthe box and with the stationary frame of the apparatus, said connectionsbeing so arranged that on upward movement of the mold-box the sides andends will be moved down to approximately horizontal pofition, while ondownward movement of the boX the sides and ends will be moved tovertical position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter thatmay be readily adjusted for the formation of hlocks of anysize and shape and in which plates of different type may be employed inorder to change the molded designs of the ex posed faces of the blocks.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of thistype in which by the insertion of suitable partitionplates a largenumber of smaller blocks or bricks may be formed at a single operation.

WVith these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafterappear, the invention consists in certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims, it being understood that various changes in the form,proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be madewithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any, of the advantagesof the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of ablock-molding machine constructed in accordance with the invention, themold-box being shown in filling or molding position. Fig. 2 is a similarview with the parts in discharging position. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe machine, portions being broken away and the side and end platesbeing removed in order to more clearly illustrate the construction. Fig.4 is a detail plan view of the mold-box provided with partition-platesfor the formation of smaller blocks or bricks. Fig. 5 is a detail viewof one form of cornice block which may be made by the machine.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawmgs.

The working parts of the machine are supported on a suitable frame 10,the lower portion of which has bearings for a transverselydisposedrock-shaft 11, and at one end of the shaft is a lever 12, by operatingwhich the mold-box may be moved to and from discharging position andopened and closed, all of the parts being operated at a single movement.

The frame is provided with a pair of horizontally-disposed bars 15, thatare connected by transverse bars 16, the latter forming supports for acore-carrying plate 17. This plate is provided with a number of slots 18for the passage of securing-bolts 19, by which cores 20 of differentshape and size may be secured in place, the positions of the coremembers and their contours depending on the character of the block to bemade.

The inner faces of the end portions of the frame are provided withvertically-disposed guiding-ribs 22 for the reception of groovedguiding-blocks 2-3, that are secured to or formed integral with the mainbottom plate 24 of the mold-box, said plate being substantially rectanular in general coutour and provided with central openings for thepassage of the cores carried by plate 17. This bottom plate is providedwith a numb er of undercut grooves 27, that are arranged for thereception of pivot-blocks 28, that may be moved within the groovestoward and from the center of the mold-box in order to increase ordecrease the size of the block to be made, and when adjusted theslide-blocks may be locked in position by screws 29. Two or more ofthese blocks are employed at each side and each end of the plate 24 andserve as pivotal supports for the side and end members of the mold-box.

On the upper rail 31 of the frame are arranged a number of brackets 82,that are provided with slots 33 for the passage of securingbolts, theslots permitting adjustment of the brackets toward and from the centerof the frame. These brackets are connected by pivot-links 34 to lugs 35,arranged at the up per edges of the side and end members of themold-box, and during the movement of the latter from the lowest ormolding position (shown in Fig. 1) to the discharging position (shown inFig. 2) the links will serve to draw the side and end members outward,the latter assuming an approximately horizontal position and freeing theblock, so that it may readily be removed and carried to the drying orsetting floor. On movement from the position shown in Fig. 2 to theposition shown in Fig. 1 the links serve as guides for closing and thecontour of the block.

the side and end members and adjusting the mold-box to position for thereception of another quantity of plastic material.

The bottom plate 24 serves as a support for a removable pallet 36,having suitable open in s for the passage of the cores, a separate palet-board being employed for each block made and the pallets beingspecially shaped to correspond to the arrangement of the cores Thesepallets are usually formed of wood or of metal that is galvanized orcoated with a non-corrodible material in order to prevent injury to amolded block, and immediately before the mold-box is closed a freshpallet is inserted to receive the plastic material.

The open frame or plate 24 is provided with a cross-bar 43, that isextended up above the level of the margin of the plate and is providedwith a circular lug 44, arranged to enter a circular recess formed inthe bottom of the pallet, so that when the molded block and pallet havebeen elevated to the position shown in Fig. 2 they may be turned aroundat a right angle, as shown by dotted lines, to permit the moreconvenient removal of the block and pallet from the machine.

In order to facilitate movement of the mold-box to discharging position,the rockshaft 11 is provided with a counterweight 40, that is normallyarranged above the level of the shaft during the filling of the mold.

After the material has been shoveled in and mold-box being elevated andthe counterweight assisting in the operation.

By changing the face-plates blocks having any desired design may bemade, and, if desired, a large number of smaller blocks or bricks may bemade at a single operation by placing within the mold-box a multiplepartition 41 of the character shown in Fig. 4.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. Thecombination with a frame, of a stationary corecarrier, a core supportedthereby, a vertically-movable bottom plate, side and end walls pivotallyconnected thereto, links connecting the upper portion of said plates tothe frame and arranged tooccupy an approximately horizontal positionduring the filling and tamping of the mold, and to effect positiveoutward and inward movement of said plate, and means for raising andlowering the mold.

2. The combination with a frame, of a stationary core-carrier, a coresupported thereby, a mold-box guided by the frame and including a bottomplate and side and end plates, said bottom plate being provided with aplurality of grooves, pivot-blocks adjustably mounted in said grooves,and to which the lower edges of the side and end plates are pivoted,brackets adjustably secured to the upper rail of the frame, and linksconnecting said brackets to the upper edges of the side and end plates,whereby on raising of the mold-box the plates will be moved outward toapproximately horizontal position, and on lowering of the box will bemoved in ward and locked in closed position.

3. In a bloclcmolding machine, a moldbox including a removable pallet,and a support therefor, the pallet being mounted for revoluble movementwith respect to its sup port to facilitate the discharge of the block.

4. In a block-1nolding machine, a moldbox including a revolubly-mountedpallet, and a pallet-support, the support and pallet being provided withinterfitting lug and 1socket portions to permit turning of the pal- Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

LUKE T. LOWE.

Witnesses:

M. L. CARRIER, JOHN I'IODGE.

